Armagnac 1964

The 1964 vintage, one single Gascon harvest

A vintage armagnac tells the story of one year only: the year the grapes were harvested and then distilled. The 1964 vintage therefore brings together only brandies from the 1964 harvest, with no blending. A VSOP or an XO, on the other hand, combines several ages to keep a consistent style. With a vintage, you taste a precise season and the savoir-faire of a house.

It all starts in the Gascon vineyards, a region where the AOC Bas-Armagnac appellation occupies the west, with a dry white wine made from the authorised grape varieties: ugni blanc, baco blanc, folle blanche and colombard. This is not a table wine: in winter, it is distilled in the armagnac still, continuously, following a South West tradition several centuries old. The still colourless spirit then goes down into oak casks, in the cellar, for a very long ageing. There it takes on its colour, its roundness and its aromas, while part of the alcohol evaporates. Once bottled, armagnac no longer evolves.

1964, the year of the Beatles and the Civil Rights Act

1964 remains the year the Beatles landed in the United States and set off Beatlemania, and the year President Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act. In Gascony, the vines followed their own rhythm: harvest in the autumn, distillation in the winter, then more than six decades of patience in cask for some of the brandies on this page.

Our 1964 armagnacs, house by house

The same harvest, but not the same terroir, nor the same casks, nor the same length of ageing: each 1964 armagnac has its own character. Here are the houses in our selection, with the notes they publish.

• Armagnac Delord, a family house founded in 1893 in Lannepax, in Bas-Armagnac. Its 1964, at 40% ABV, shows aromas of undergrowth, very typical of old armagnacs, along with spices and mature oak; the attack is supple and the length very good.
• Armagnac Castarède, a house founded in 1832. Its 1964 spent 56 years in cask before being bottled in 2020, at 40% ABV. A lovely pale yellow colour with golden glints, a nose with a pronounced vanilla note, a gentle attack and a light structure, for a fine balance.
• Baron de Sigognac, made by the Guasch family at Château de Bordeneuve. This 1964 at 40% ABV has an amber colour with golden glints, a powerful and complex nose of candied fruit and cinnamon, a rich and elegant palate with pleasant oak, and a long roasted coffee finish.
• Clés des Ducs, the house in Panjas where this 1964 was distilled. Never blended, it comes from casks chosen one by one for a long, rich and smooth brandy with discreet oak. It is 40% ABV.
• Dartigalongue, a family house in Nogaro since 1838. Its 1964, at 42% ABV, opens with vanilla, candied orange peel and floral touches; the palate shows great freshness, with tangy notes, and the finish is long and delicate.
• Jean Cavé, a distiller and ageing house in Lannepax since 1883, which has built up a remarkable collection of old vintages. Its 1964 is a brut de fût (cask strength, not reduced), bottled at 42% ABV.

Aromas and tasting of 1964 armagnac

An armagnac over sixty years old gains in elegance and refinement. You will often find prune, hazelnut, candied orange, vanilla, sweet spices, undergrowth, and sometimes the rancio of very old brandies. Styles remain varied: Castarède and Dartigalongue lean towards finesse and freshness, Sigognac towards richness.

Serve it at room temperature, in a tulip glass. Let it breathe, warm the glass in your hand, then taste in small sips. As a digestif, on its own or with a square of dark chocolate, it reveals all its complexity. Once opened, store the bottle upright, away from light and heat: it will keep for several months.

A gift for the 62nd birthday of someone born in 1964

In 2026, people born in 1964 celebrate their 62nd birthday, and couples married in 1964 their 62nd wedding anniversary. Giving them an armagnac from their year means giving a brandy that has lived through the same history as they have, from the harvest to the glass. A rare gift, to open on the day of the celebration or to keep for another great occasion, in its gift case or wooden box depending on the house.

Frequently asked questions about 1964 armagnac

What is the best 1964 armagnac?

It all depends on the style you are looking for. Castarède and Dartigalongue offer a fine, fresh profile, Baron de Sigognac a rich and complex armagnac, Delord the depth of undergrowth, and Jean Cavé the power of a brut de fût.

Where can I buy a 1964 vintage armagnac?

At Plaisirs de Gascogne, an online shop specialising in vintage armagnac: the bottles come directly from the Gascon houses, your order is paid for securely and delivery is handled with care, in France and across Europe.

What are the characteristics of 1964 armagnac?

It is an armagnac from a single harvest, aged for decades in oak casks and bottled at 40 or 42% ABV depending on the house, from family château to merchant house. A beautiful, elegant brandy that has kept the character of its original wine. Its price depends on the estate and the bottling; each product page specifies it.

Is a 1964 armagnac still good to drink?

Yes. Armagnac no longer ages once in the bottle and does not deteriorate if properly stored, upright and somewhere cool.

Also discover the 1965 armagnac and all our vintage armagnacs.

Please enjoy responsibly. Excessive alcohol consumption is harmful to health.